I have often extolled on this site the musical virtues of brother and sister, David and Joanne Quigley, but, for those of you unable to make their wonderful Newry concerts, I have not, until now, been able to recommend a recording.
John McCullagh
Mimivirus: after Yeats
Mimivirus merchants
Denizens of a shadow world
No more alive than dead
But ever-present: indestructible;
Brendan Cassidy, Ex Abbey Teacher
Just now I received an email from an old friend, advising me of the passing of our former Abbey French teacher of the early 60s … and I was carried back …
Kieran Rowantree RIP
Few families anywhere – much less in Newry of the 50s-60s – were as large as ours, but that of close neighbours, the Rowantrees of Monaghan Row was one such. Remarkably too, James Rowantree was a baker in McCanns, as was my dear dad Sonny.
Mitchel on Ballingarry
Some time ago we offered a synopsis of John Mitchel’s career and some quotes from his writings. Mitchel was arrested and transported before some fellow patriots and friends pursued the ill-fated rising at Ballingarry in 1848, when the whole nation was on its knees in the worst year of the Great Famine. In his Jail Journal he makes allusion to these events.
Brother Dempsey: end
One afternoon near Christmas I heard Brother Dempsey discussing the holidays with another of the Brothers. I kept my eyes on the book and pretended to be deeply involved in A Tale of Two Cities but my ears were intent all the same.
Little Women by Newpoint
Be advised of a fantastic production at Sean Hollywood Arts Centre from tonight (Tuesday) until Saturday. You really ought to go!
Music galore!
Last night we had a great session in the Railway Bar, including All-Ireland fiddlers, cousins Rosie Ferguson and Oonagh Devlin. Mick Quinn was on hand – and in great form – for the aul stories. We promised to get back to Bernard O’Hanlons for the Friday/Saturday night sessions and the Welcome Inn on Tuesday nights. But that clashes with Alfie Corr’s gig in the Corner House in Rostrevor.
Indeed, my latest icon Rosemary Brennan promised to play that venue a Friday night soon.